How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?

[straitman]

off topic but I hope your Meatloaf experience was better

It was.

His voice is not quite what it was but he certainly is an entertainer.

 

[anat0l]

Hotel: Hilton Sydney
Status: HH Gold
Rate: $210.32 Advance Purchase, eventually less 20% Hilton Macquarie Guest Pass.
Room Booked: King Hilton Guest Room Plus
Room Received: King Hilton Executive Room (41st floor)
Other Received:

• Welcome fold-card - not really a biggie, as it was only supposed to indicate that I had organised some requested items on arrival.
• Bottle of water (complimentary)
• Apple (complimentary)
• Complimentary breakfast restricted only to Executive Lounge (breakfast at glass restaurant would be chargeable)
• Complimentary late check-out to 1.30pm (2.00pm or later would be chargeable, starting at $30)

The $210.32 (full amount) was charged on the credit card at the time of booking, since I didn't have the pass and activation code handy to add to comments. Upon check-in and presentation of the pass, a note regarding the pass was made and 20% will be held as a credit which will be refunded to the card (eventually - they said it can take some weeks) if there is any credit balance remaining. The pass was also noted for any hotel F&B (i.e. 20% off those).

 

[munitalP]

Hilton Las Vegas:

Original room rate $165. Stay length 7 nights. At time of booking, HH Gold

Had an email informing of room upgrade due to status, with additional upgrade options available on payment. I chose an additional $15 per night and upgraded to superior exec room.

On arrival, informed we had another upgrade FOC due to status. HH still showing Gold on booking, informed the check in of freshly minded Diamond status, they tore up my room info and upgraded to a 3rd floor exec suite. (rack rate $425 per night)

The Exec Suite:

Separate bedroom, King+ bed. Walk in robe approx 3.5Mx2M - Huge! Bathroom - usual Hilton style, massive shower and marble. Dining area - round 4 place table, and walk down into lounge area 3 seater and 2x1 seat lounges, coffee table. Room has large TV, lounge large panel TV. Lounge sliding door opens out to balcony area with astro turf and outdoor chairs - walk down onto rooftop deck which eventually meanders around to tennis courts and pool area. Suite is across 3 levels, draws, side draws, bedside, office desk coffee table etc - all dark timber - very 1970's styled. Plush carpet throughout the suite, no hall noise.

Additional benefits:

• Comp Breakfast for 2 daily
• Newspaper
• comp 24hr valet parking (this will be good!)
• Comp internet (limited to 1 computer - didnt say anything about a WiFi router!)
• Comp health club
• Comp letter handling
• 50% off Cabana rental
• 20% off Regis salon (may go for hair cut later today)

munitalP Luxury scale? 8.5/10

 

[serfty]

Good one! Especially for a whole week!

I'll be at LAS in two weeks; have booked there. However 'tis only one night ...

 

[reductionist]

Hotel: Hilton Sydney
Status: HH Gold
Rate: $199 Best Available Rate
Room Booked: King Hilton Guest Room Plus
Room Received: King Hilton Guest Room Plus (42nd floor)
Other Received:

• Welcome letter.
• Bottle of water (complimentary)
• Apple (complimentary)
• Breakfast at Glass restaurant (complimentary in lieu of exec lounge access)

The last 2 or 3 visits to Hilton Sydney I've been given access to the exec lounge. I think I'd actually prefer the free buffet breakfast at Glass after experiencing it this time. I love the showers here but mine seems to leak water all over the floor under the sink. Also the ironing board is a POS.

The letter they gave me was a reminder about the 2 on property benefits available to me. I can't decide if I should be choosing between space available upgrades or the 1000 extra points (I've chosen the former).

 

[serfty]

...
The letter they gave me was a reminder about the 2 on property benefits available to me. I can't decide if I should be choosing between space available upgrades or the 1000 extra points (I've chosen the former).

If you choose the 1000 extra points you are not entitled to upgrade/breakfast (although some properties do this anyway).

So if you wan't to guarantee 'continental' breakfast at least then the Upgrade option is the way to go.

 

[cove]

Mrscove and her girlfriend are now booked into Hilton Canary Wharf in the club section as she loves the place. After you allow for the free food,drinks and Internet plus the points earn you could almost think the room price was ok.
Now would be a bad time to let me know a way to get a lower price somehow but please do it anyway so I can learn to do better with Hilton pricing!

 

[straitman]

Mrscove and her girlfriend are now booked into Hilton Canary Wharf in the club section as she loves the place. After you allow for the free food,drinks and Internet plus the points earn you could almost think the room price was ok.
Now would be a bad time to let me know a way to get a lower price somehow but please do it anyway so I can learn to do better with Hilton pricing!

Have you looked at AAA rates :?:

 

[cove]

Yes I tried AAA,mini breaks and advance purchase but it was still high. Now the VAT goes on top at 20%!

 

[MrJetset]

Yes I tried AAA,mini breaks and advance purchase but it was still high. Now the VAT goes on top at 20%!

Booked the Hilton Surfers for this weekend. The new reservation system doesn't allow the AAA rate for NRMA that I used to input.

 

[serfty]

Booked the Hilton Surfers for this weekend. The new reservation system doesn't allow the AAA rate for NRMA that I used to input.

You currently need need to call to get the AAA (Show your card and save) rate ... :-|

 

[MrJetset]

You currently need need to call to get the AAA (Show your card and save) rate ... :-|

I just input my sister's AAA code for NYC. If they question it, I'll tell them it's 307 NRMA.

 

[Moopere]

If you choose the 1000 extra points you are not entitled to upgrade/breakfast (although some properties do this anyway).

So if you wan't to guarantee 'continental' breakfast at least then the Upgrade option is the way to go.

1000HH points seem to be valued by the FF press and more generally at about $4. I wonder why anyone would choose this option over a 'free' breakfast (with added possibility of a room upgrade).

 

[serfty]

1000HH points seem to be valued by the FF press and more generally at about $4. I wonder why anyone would choose this option over a 'free' breakfast (with added possibility of a room upgrade).

Me next week - when I am in at 9pm and out at 5:30am - before the kitchen opens :shock:

All I'll want will be sleep!

 

[Moopere]

Me next week - when I am in at 9pm and out at 5:30am - before the kitchen opens :shock:

Youch! Too early for me

Mind though, even with this schedule, would you want a room upgrade over the 1000 points?

It doesn't seem like a reasonable choice from HH in these cases. I would have though 10,000-20,000 points would be a closer approximation to the value added by a free room upgrade + a breakfast that, in Australia at least, seems to cost 25-35$ (35$ / 0.4c = 8750hh) + room upgrade would have to be worth at least 10-20$ at most Hiltons, at $20 that would be another 5,000 points = total 13,750. Even allowing for variation across the different hotels 10K seems a lot closer to the mark than 1,000 is.

 

[serfty]

I'm thinking the 1000 points is a legacy going back to the program's origins when 1000 HHonors would go a lot further than these days.

As far as aprages to better rooms etc, I have a philosophy - "You can't eat a view/suite".

 

[muppet]

I hope you are right as I have not been able to work out a pattern with them.

Wow. I'm not right at all.
Standard room. They called it executive, it's not, i just have lounge benefits.

Plus, I was called this week by a massively terse and rude reservations agent following my 'attempt' to best rate guarantee this stay. "whats your problem? Whats wrong with the rate? do you have a record of your claims?"

Yikes. Someone had a bad day I presume.

I'll still stay here. 8+ excellent stays shouldn't be ignored by one terse phone call. But sheesh.

In short - I retract my claim that better upgrades come after frequent stays.

m.

 

[munitalP]

A quick change of mind last night and a no return (at different location) fee on the Mustang, I checked out of LAS this AM and drove across to LAX where I have checked into Hilton LAX for 3 nights.

Upgraded to exec level with lounge. Comp valet car parking, comp Internet.

All a little ho hum after LAS, but was expecting that.

 

[cgoh]

Including last night I have stayed at Hilton on the Park on five occasions this year. At best I can say is that treatment at this hotel is very patchy.

I only ever expect my entitlements but like everyone here I also like to be pleasantly surprised.

Last night the stay was at this hotel due to its convenient location to Rod Laver arena as I was going to the Meatloaf concert. We paid for an Executive Room as this was the cheapest available and that is precisely what we got.

1. No HHonors recognition at all other than a welcome letter with the wrong date on it.
2. An Executive Room immediately next to the Lounge and near the elevators. (again) My preference is away from the elevators.
3. The room was 'nice' though almost Holiday Inn standard and not Hilton standard IMHO.
4. No Newspaper. (again)
5. The need to 'discuss' the bill the get the 20% Hilton Premium Club discount applied. (again)
6. The scratchy piece of paper with a name scrawled on it when asking for a contact is not very professional either (IMHO)

After the poor performance by the hotel during Oz Fest in May 2007 (see this FT thread) it has taken a while for this hotel to lure me back. After this I think it is back to Hilton South Wharf in future even when attending shows that are better served for this hotel.

I'll be interested to see the response I get from the email I'm sending to the hotel and will post the outcome here when I get it.

Checked in last night at HOP. Received absolutely nothing, not even executive room upgrade, complimentary water etc.

I asked the guy at check in regarding room upgrade and he told me he had put me in an Executive room. I queried again because I know Executive room are located on L17 and 18, he then said because he had given me executive lounge access, I am thus considered to be in an executive room. He further stated that all room at HOP, excluding suites, are the same (even though they clearly have a Deluxe room which is more expensive). I did score a late check out today though for 3PM.

For the price I paid, I could have gone to Westin but decided to show some loyalty to Hilton. Bad choice I suppose.

 

[strippett]

Stayed at HSW this weekend first stay as a Diamond. Booked a queen room and got upgraded to 2 bedroom suite on the top floor. Had great food in the lounge, would go back there anytime we had a great stay.